A killing frost arrived this weekend two nights in a row, putting an end to my garden. With a low last night of 25F (-4C), even my few stalwart perennials died back.
Saturday afternoon I collected what I could of my zinnias (Z. ‘Profusion’) and nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) for vases.
I placed the nasturtiums on the secretary where I have my Halloween display. That cute bear with a hand knit sweater and pumpkin button I got close to twenty years ago. It always warms my heart when I look at it!
Sad for me to think this may be my last post for this meme until spring, but I may be able to rustle up a few bits of things if I put my mind to it. We’ll have to see.
Many thanks to Cathy at Rambling In the Garden, who hosts a weekly meme to showcase what is blooming in our gardens by creating arrangements to enjoy inside our homes. Wander over to see what gardeners all over the world are arranging this week. Feel free to join in, sharing your own weekly vase with a link to Cathy’s blog.
Eliza Waters 
Yup, that first frost. It says it all. Winter’s about here. I am so far behind in getting wood! I have enjoyed your garden. Thank you.
Thank you, Mary. Hope you get your wood in soon. It is in such high demand here, we get ours in April to cure over the summer in the shed. It is a great comfort to see it full to the top. The stove has been going for days now and I sure appreciate its coziness!
A beautiful farewell bouquet you’ve assembled Eliza! It still speaks of summer. We had killing frost too, bringing an end to our gardens too. Although I love fall, it’s sad to see the first frost kill everything back and the rest of the plants go dormant. I still had peppers flowering and lots of little green tomatoes. Clearly the plants weren’t ready for cold temps either. I hope you will still find much of beauty in your garden and outdoors as winter comes. Blessings, Sarah
Thank you, Sarah. I will miss the exuberance of the gardens, but you are right, I will find beauty here regardless of the season. 🙂 Blessings!
Sad to hear about the frost and the end of the vase posts – but beautiful last flowers for the season, if nothing else!
I will look forward to seeing if you can come up with anything over the winter. And soon enough the crocuses and early flowers will be back out (though not soon enough for my impatience!).
Thanks, Sarah. Yes, spring can’t come fast enough for me either!
Lovely!
Thank you, Julie. 🙂
Down to 26 two days in a row so we’re all done here as well. 🙂 But those vases in the sunshine sure made me smile. 🙂
It came on fast and brutal, didn’t it? Sigh. Well, what do we do now? 😉
I keep my sewing machine oiled, and I guess we both hunker down. 🙂
Winter’s coming!
Yikes, no matter, what it is!
This is a happy last bouquet you created. And I love the tiny bear in her very thick sweater. She makes winter look friendly. I am also looking forward to seeing some winter garlands or sprays or whatever you come up with.
Thank you, M. You know me, I’ll be itching to create something! 😉
What a beautiful swan song. At least you made the most of your very last blooms. Have a wonderful Hallowe’en and Christmas and then we can all start looking forward to spring.
Thank you, spring seems so far away right now, but as time does fly, it will come soon enough!
Your Nasturtiums and Zinnias make a glorious blaze of color to end the season, Eliza. Your bittersweet berries are a nice touch, and your little sweatered bear friend gives a warm touch to your Halloween decorations. I was wondering what happens to this meme in the winter, I guess I will see what presents for me to make into a vase.
Thanks, Hannah. Yes, it is slim pickins’ for us northerners. 😉
You’ve created a vase of sunshine with the last of your flowers Eliza. We’ve had frost too – not enough to kill the flowers off yet but enough to do away with the runner beans and courgettes. Roll on spring:)
A ‘vase of sunshine’ – exactly! beautifully put.
🙂
Thank you. I agree with you, I’m all ready for spring! 😉
Beautiful blooms, so lovely to see them Eliza 😊
Many thanks, Frances!
“How does your garden grow?” I never need to ask about yours Eliza. You have had the most beautiful bounty and your vase displays are stunning. This last array is no exception.
Aw, thanks, Dor, you say the nicest things! 🙂
The light in that first photo – so beautiful! Rays of sunshine beam throughout your post. That little bear – so sweet. I’m sue you won’t be able to resist creating something, even if it is with twigs – I’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with. Still quite mild here in S. England, it seems to be confusing the plants and the birds have been trilling away like it’s Spring.
Oh, I wish I was there in your spring-like weather! It is cold and breezy today (however, good weather for raking leaves).
Thanks for the vote of confidence! I just might conjure up something out of sticks and berries in the coming weeks. 😉
No pressure, but bet that you’ll find something to amaze us tomorrow. You always do..
Aw, thanks for the faith you have in me, Liv! Anything left in your gardens?
Such a happy vase to end a glorious time of your garden and start another one, why not, there are so many ideas!
Thank you, Anca!
That first frost must come as something of a punch. Frost is rare in my area of southern California and hard freezes are unheard of. In the almost 5 years we’ve been in our current house, we’ve yet had to contend with frost, although we did have frosts a few times at our old home, only 15 miles away. I can still remember my shock at going out into the garden to find my impatiens and many other plants had suddenly turned to mush. I’m glad you were able to find so many cheerful blooms to bring inside before the damage became more serious. The nasturtiums are a nice accompaniment to your charming Halloween display.
Thanks so much, Kris.Mush is a good way to describe my gardens right now! 😉
Your forward thinking has paid off – what a beautiful splash of colour to say goodbye to your garden flowers for the year. Such a shame the frost hit hard, but I was constantly amazed at what I could find for many weeks last autumn and winter – even bare twigs can look pretty in a vase! The meme helped me focus on the positive out there, and got me through the dark weeks!
I remember your vases and was impressed with your creativity. It gives me hope!
Such bright and cheerful vases, Eliza – definitely going out with a ‘bang’ if they do turn out to be your last blooms of the season. Thank you so much for sharing them with us.
Thank you, Cathy!
I love your vases of bright flowers 🙂
Thank you, Jenna. Welcome back! How was the jet lag?
What a shame! Minus 4 is quite a start. Glad you managed to pick your cheerful zinnias and nasturtiums first. My zinnias are mostly succumbing to moulds with the damp. 😦
I have the same problem with regular zinnias. You might try ‘Profusion’ next year as they are a different cross that is more sturdy.
Thanks, I’ll check them out.
Beautiful flowers! Glad you snatched them from the jaws of frost. I look forward to your creativity with dried fall things and your garden next year as well!
Thank you for your faith in me, Lisa!
Well-deserved!
🙂 Thank you!
The lovely light in your first photo belies the temperatures you’ve been having Eliza!
Ps. I enjoy seeing your garden in winter, spring summer and fall. Sandra X
Thank you so much, Sandra. At least I can enjoy your spring vicariously!
Fireworks…that’s what came to mind when I first saw your zinnias…..the nasturtiums too are great, and clever you for going out and cutting them and now enjoying them.
Thank you, Noelle. 🙂
😩
Exactly!
Seriously. You have a genius for this. Just wow,
You are so kind, Debra. 🙂 Thanks!
It was 22 degrees yesterday at 5 am here in Pittsburgh, very cold for October. I love seeing your garden in all the seasons Eliza.
Wow, that is cold for your area – it was quite an icy blast over the Northeast.
Many thanks, Sylvia. I try to see the beauty that each season brings, but my heart belongs to summer!
Lovely, sunny zinnias and nasturtiums.
Thank you, Sam.
Gorgeous save Eliza! I just love zinnias and your first image is great… warm with a little tilt. Is that two milk bottles you have them in?
Thanks, Denise. I had to overexpose the vase as the zinnias were in shadow, but that is just one vase made of heavy crystal, shaped like a cloud (think 7-bumped kid’s drawing). It can hold a lot of flowers!
Gorgeous colours — they remind me of sunshine 🙂
They are pretty sunshiny and cheerful. Thanks so much!
such a shame about the frost, but your zinnias are a delight. I know what you mean about running out of blooms for a vase each Monday, but I am hoping to be able to use just foliage. I hope you enjoy your Halloween celebrations.
Thank you, Ann. Your milder winters provide more material, so I’m a bit envious of that. Things get pretty bleak here come Jan.Bare branches can be nice, but do get a bit boring!
That’s a lovely little Zinnia, and it looks like a beautiful sunny day in spite of the frost. What a neat sounding vase that is – I thought it was milk bottles as well. As winter is ending here I’m a bit loathe to say goodbye to all the things I love about it – cosy flannelette sheets, hot chocolate, sitting by the fire, wooly PJ’s and fluffy socks…
Thank you, Cath. You make winter sound so much more appealing! I will take your list to heart! I’ll add the warmth of the wood stove to the flannel sheets, etc. 😉
Perfection! The colors are so “fally”!
Thank you, Kathy. I found it interesting that my “salmon” Profusion turned a deep red/orange and the yellow became a deep gold once the weather cooled.
So sorry to hear of the killing frost Eliza…we had similar weather while I was away, but very little seems touched by the frost so I am feeling grateful for the continued blooms. Your vases are perfect for a last fall flower vase! WE will dream of spring now.
Yes, we will dream of spring! Glad the frost passed you by, at least for now. We take all that nature gives us!
Although fall is beautiful, I always find it sad. I hate goodbyes, and fall is like saying goodbye to the “living” outdoors. And for me, the wait for the return of the green outdoors seems like it lasts forever! Thank you for sharing all the beauty of your outdoors! I look forward to enjoying more of your lovely flower arrangements in the spring.
Thanks so much – I appreciate that!
I feel about fall just as you do. Winter is long and can be harsh. I so miss green lush landscapes! I visit our local conservatory, which has a palm room, when I need a fix. It’s like a mini-tropical vacation!
Such beautiful flower – and the light is perfect! 6 months or so until they are back again… 🙂
Thanks, Inger. It feels like such a long wait until spring, but time does tend to pass more quickly the older I get. Not sure if that is such a good thing, however! 😉
Simply beautiful! And your final flowers of the season come in perfect October colors. Great planning! Love your bear in its cuddly sweater. So sweet…. ❤ ❤ ❤
Thank you! A happy coincidence, I assure you. That Teddy reminds me of the good, snuggly parts of this time of year. 🙂
I’ve always loved stuffed bears. He seems to be an especially nice one ❤
🙂